Samuel Adams Imperial White Ale

Brewed by Boston Beer Company
Style: Belgian White (Witbier)
Boston, Massachusetts USA

I’m a big fan of Sam Adams original white ale but this one was just too sweet for me. Sweet fruity smell with spices. Flavor was just a tad too sweet for me though.

Sampled at the Sam Adams tasting at BlackLick Wine and Spirits. This was a wonderful brew. A nice bananas and bubble gum nose with hints of spice.Flavor was citrus and spice that blended well.

Sampled at Blacklick Wine and Spirits Sam Adams Tasting. This honestly was my favorite beer of the evening. At frist I didnt want to like it as I found it hard to beleive it was a SA beer. Golden cloudy pour. Aromas of oranges, cinnamon, and even a bit of ginger. Flavor was funky!!!!! Sweet a bit of sour lemon, honey, oranges and cinnamon. VERY surprised it packed a 10% alcohol, as it was very well hidden...Maybe not true to style, but still a nice offering from them.

The color is a nice cloudy copper color, almost yellow at the edges. Brilliant color; thin, creamy head. The aroma of a Belgian tripel. Strong and spicy, with some banana. Earthy malts. Not much like a witbier in any way. The taste is toasted bananas, spicy cloves. Sugary malts, almost like an English ale. Belgian tripel-like spices, with some cinnamon. Good in theory, but the flavors don’t mesh well in practice. Feels fizzy and bubbly. An alcoholic bite on the way down. It’s a mix between a hef and a Belgian ale. They don’t go together as well as I’d hoped.

Apricot amber color, much darker than usual for a wit, with a thick, foamy, beige head. Enjoyably fruity hop, malt, and coriander aroma with against a citrus grove background. Full-bodied with a burst of citrus and peach alcohol upfront. The maltiness definitely blurs the senses and exudes strength. Coriander is well integrated and doesn’t distract. Spicy, citrusy finish. A solid brew, but not exactly the light, zippy refresher one is accustomed to of a wit.

Bottle. Pours golden with a creamy moderate sized off-white head. Aroma is rich, cloven, a touch spicy and bready with a hint of tart citrus. Flavor is very rich, clovey with full creamy body. Not bad, may go a bit too far with the richness.

Bottle. Dark swampy orange. Steady carbonation and light foam. Tangy sour citrus wort aroma. First impression is of the thick body and texture. Tastes like a dirty high ABV citrus amber. Big alcohol finish. Not a refreshing white. As you get into it the white characteristics start to show. Too much alcohol. Malt thickness overtop of citrus and spice. More like an English Strong Ale. I don’t know whether to give it an 8 or a 13.

I suppose it’s too much to ask that a "White Ale" be, you know, white? It’s a minor quibble, but jeez, man, c’mon... At any rate, It’s orange, and smells very sweet. taste kind of overly sweet, too, and rather syrupy. Hints of white wine, apple and pear, maybe some ginger? Ok, but kinda too heavy.